The Call News received eight awards in the 2025 Alabama Press Association Media Awards announced on Friday, including three first places for Editor Jimmy Wigfield and a first for photographer Bonita Roberts.
Wigfield won for Best Local Sports Column in Division C for the second straight year for his column making the case that former Saraland star Ryan Williams is the best high school football player in state history.
Wigfield also won for Best Sports Single-Event Story for his coverage of the Saraland-Jackson football game and for Best Sports News In-Depth Coverage for Jackson winning the state basketball championship. Wigfield took third place for Best Sports Feature Story for his piece on Saraland brother-and-sister coaches Jeff Kelly and Dana Kelly Mason.
Roberts won for Best Sports Photo in Division C for her picture of Citronelle’s Hal Weaver leaping into the air as Mobile Christian’s Gavin Weinshenker stole second base.
Helen Joyce won second place in Best Feature Photo for Division C for “Fourth Frolic,” a collection of pictures showing people enjoying Independence Day.
The Call News also won second place in Division C for Best Production and Printing and third place for Best Layout and Design by Doug Dimitry.
The annual contest featured competition among 53 publications and 1,725 entries which were judged by the Michigan Press Association, according to the APA.
Additional awards will be announced at the 2025 Alabama Press Association Summer Convention in June.
